ādīnavato

ādīnava

masc abl sg of ādīnava (noun); masc abl pl of ādīnava (noun)

danger; problem (in)
disadvantage; drawback; unsatisfactoriness; inadequacy (of)

Built from

ā- — prefix · toward, up to
Directional prefix indicating something coming into view or awareness; here marking the manifestation of a danger or disadvantage.
dī — root · see, perceive
Root expressing perception or becoming visible; related to Sanskrit dī and the Indo-European word family of eye and oculus, suggesting what comes into view as threatening.
nava — ending · quality, state
Nominalizing suffix forming an abstract noun; -nava marks the condition of being bound or constrained by what is perceived.
to — ending · from
Ablative singular or plural case ending indicating source, cause, or reason ("from this danger", "because of these drawbacks").

Etymology. Derived from ā + dī + nava. The prefix ā- (toward, up to) combines with a root expressing perception or taking notice; dī relates to seeing or making visible (Sanskrit √dī, cognate with English eye, Latin oculus). The sense develops from "coming into view as a danger" to "manifest disadvantage or peril". The suffix -nava (from √nū "to bind, constrain") marks the quality or state of being perceived as binding or restricting. The word is attested primarily in Pali Buddhist texts, especially in the formula ādīnava-ānisaṁsa (dangers and benefits) used in doctrinal analysis of sensory experience and craving.

Meanings from the Digital Pāḷi Dictionary; morphology and etymology by Claude.

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